A Mexican woman who had been sentenced in Qatar to seven years in prison and one hundred lashes for denouncing an aggression suffered by herself had a favorable decision in the courts of the Arab country.
Paola Schietekat had arrived in the Qatari capital, Doha, in February 2020 to work for the government in organizing the 2022 World Cup. After a year and a half living there, she says she was the victim of a physical assault. But when she went to the authorities to file a complaint, the case turned against her: Paola was accused of “extramarital sex”, a crime under Islamic law.
The 27-year-old was sentenced to seven years in prison and one hundred lashes. And, surprisingly, she was given an alternative: she could get rid of the penalty, but for that she would have to marry her abuser. The case gained visibility because it was seen as a symbol of the vulnerability of women in the country that is preparing to host the main event in world football.
“After this process, I realized that despite my academic degrees, professional preparation, financial independence and despite working for the government of Qatar, I am vulnerable to human rights violations by archaic and abusive institutions and unable to find protection in my consulate” , denounced Schietekat in a post on Facebook in which he exposed the case.
The young woman managed to leave Qatar last year, but has since argued that justice has not been done in her case and that her attacker is free. And she says that Mexicans, as well as minorities such as women and LGBTQIA+ people who will visit the country for the World Cup, can be victims of the Qatari system.
The Mexican Chancellor, Marcelo Ebrard, met with her in February and said that he would put at her disposal the best lawyer to defend her. She regretted not receiving support until the case made headlines in the Mexican and international press. Until, this Sunday (3), the Secretariat of International Relations of Mexico reported that the criminal case against Schietekat was returned by the judge to the equivalent body of the Attorney General’s Office, after the defense’s arguments had been heard. This, in effect, “completes the criminal case” in Schietekat’s favor, she said on Twitter.
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